WARNING: Patch 12.1.5 and 12.1.7 Spoilers in this post!
Return to Khaz Algar
Following the climactic sacrifice at the end of patch 12.1.5, the plot of Midnight rather immediately made a pivot away from the story in Quel'thalas, and back on track to Xal'atath's ongoing machinations. Thanks to a vision from Orweyna, our characters finally learned that Xal'atath is attempting to claim Azeroth's Worldsoul herself, and rushed to Arator to begin forming a plan to pursue her to the center of the planet.
Orweyna says: The goddess... she has her--we must--where is Arator?
Arator says: Orweyna! What happened?
Orweyna says: The goddess is in danger! Xal'atath has infiltrated the heart of the world!
Arator says: That must be where she sent the Devouring Host!
Orweyna says: Time is running out. The coreway of the earthen is our only chance of stopping her. Go to the earthen. See what can be done.
Orweyna says: I must speak with my people. They need to know--our goddess... our world... it cannot fall, Arator.
Arator says: We will never let that happen.
With patch 12.1.7, no time is wasted in returning us to Khaz Algar, and Lor'themar sends us to Dorgonal alongside Arator to check in on the Earthen. When we last saw them during The War Within, their people had united in defiance of the Titans' edicts, and were in the middle of clearing out the collapsed Coreway that leads down to the Worldsoul. Upon arriving, we meet with Brinthe, who reveals that they have had a number of ongoing problems in their endeavor.
Machine Speaker Gerta says: Speaker Brinthe, the Coreway excavation project progresses slowly. We are doing everything we can.
Arator says: Xal'atath is deep in the heart of the world as we speak, and the Coreway's elevator is our only means of catching up to her.
Arator says: Is there any way we can clear the collapsed passage faster?
High Speaker Brinthe says: All available earthen are applying their full capabilities to the effort, but complications arose that require a keeper to mitigate.
High Speaker Brinthe says: Tyr was summoned to assist, but has yet to arrive.
Arator says: Complications? What kind of...
Dagran Thaurissan II says: Is... is this thing on?
High Speaker Brinthe says: Dagran, is everything alright?
Dagran Thaurissan II says: No! Things are VERY much NOT alright!
Dagran Thaurissan II says: We've got a wee skardyn problem pouring out o' the Coreway passage and could use some help right away!
Dagran Thaurissan II says: GAH! GOTTA GO!
High Speaker Brinthe says: Complications, young Arator.
Arator says: Well, at least this sounds like one a sword can help with.
High Speaker Brinthe says: Begin another search for the keeper!
In addition to their need of Tyr, the Keeper we resurrected into a new body back in Dragonflight, Dagran is also in imminent need of help against void-corrupted skardyn pouring from the Coreway excavation site, so we head down into Hallowfall to help stem the tide of enemies.
After fighting off skardyn and saving the Earthen and Arathi workers, Dagran's search affirms that in order to delve any deeper into the Coreway, they will need higher security clearance. With no other problems happening with the excavation, we return with Dagran to the surface.
Dagran Thaurissan II says: Arator! Champion! Skardyn just started pouring out of the Coreway. We have to save everyone!
Reassured Earthen says: My thanks. I will not become a skardyn so quickly. I will recover.
Reassured Earthen says: Thank you. I must refocus. The skardyn cannot stop our work.
Reassured Earthen says: I require downtime. The Coreway is so near, but so far...
Dagran Thaurissan II says: I can't get the console to work. We'll find Tyr. Maybe he'll have the security clearance we need.
Finding Tyr
Back in Dornogal, we find a number of Earthen waiting around for Tyr, and find out that he has still not arrived. Unable to merely sit around, we set out with Dagran to search for him ourselves, and along the way bump into none other than Dagran's uncle, Brann Bronzebeard! Having caught him in the middle of a few delves, he joins us on the hunt for Tyr across the Isle of Dorn.
Dagran Thaurissan II says: Where's Tyr? Hasn't he arrived? Why is everyone waiting around?
Dagran Thaurissan II says: The Isle isn't small, but a titan keeper should stand out. We'll find him!
Dagran Thaurissan II says: Uncle Brann! Are you looking for Tyr too?
Brann Bronzebeard says: Of course! Come on, Dagran! We have a keeper to find.
High Speaker Brinthe says: Dagran. Champion. Brann Bronzebeard. We have found the keeper.
After searching further, and speculating if he was on some grand quest, we ultimately find Tyr simply... sitting on the beach, admiring the view. Brinthe has also arrived to speak with Tyr, but she allows Dagran's request to come first, and Tyr reveals that it is not in his capacity to access the Coreway -- but it is the capacity of another Keeper.
Tyr explains that the Coreway was under the jurisdiction of Archaedas, the Keeper who we defeated all the way back in vanilla WoW as the final boss of Uldaman. During The War Within, the weekly Archive quests revealed periodic messages from Archaedas, detailing the importance of Azeroth's Worldsoul, the creation of the Worldcore to contain it, and the troubled maintenance of the Coreway by the earthen of Khaz Algar.
While Tyr himself may not be able to enter the Coreway with his own access disc, Archaedas' might, and so Tyr gives us his and sends us to Uldaman along with Brann and Dagran to retrieve it from Archaedas' corpse. The pair are giddy -- perhaps too giddy -- and set off towards Dornogal to take a teleporter to Uldaman.
High Speaker Brinthe says: Hail, Keeper Tyr. I am High Speaker Brinthe of the Council of Dornogal. Thank you for responding to our call.
Tyr says: It is an honor to meet you, High Speaker Brinthe. I will assist however I am able.
Dagran Thaurissan II says: It's so exciting to meet you, Keeper Tyr, sir! I'm Dagran. I have so many questions for you!
High Speaker Brinthe says: Indeed, we both have queries. Dagran, you have priority. What did you find that required the keeper?
Dagran Thaurissan II says: Oh, right, of course! We need to access the Coreway, but it needs a higher security disc than what we've got. Where can we find one?
Tyr says: The Coreway was Archaedas's project. His security disc would grant you the access you seek.
Tyr says: Take my security disc. Archaedas's remains are within the vault in Uldaman. This disc will allow you to find him.
Brann Bronzebeard says: Uldaman? I've been there loads of times. I can help ye find that disc, Dagran.
Dagran Thaurissan II says: Are you ready to revisit Uldaman, Uncle Brann? I can't wait to see it with you!
Brann Bronzebeard says: With Tyr's very own security disc! Think of the things we'll uncover, laddie!
Brinthe, meanwhile, stays behind to have a chat with Tyr about her doubts over his role as Keeper. The Earthen of Khaz Algar have a fraught past with their Titanforged masters, especially the namesakes of their city, Keepers Dornic and Galan, who abused them over the course of millennia. Despite this, Brinthe sees the earnestness of Tyr even with his memory loss, and endeavors to start a new and amicable relationship with the resurrected keeper.
High Speaker Brinthe says: Keeper Tyr. The last time one of your kind visited was not a pleasant memory.
Tyr says: You refer to Galan. Both Galan and Dornic lost sight of their directives.
High Speaker Brinthe says: That is a mild way to phrase our intended deactivation.
Tyr says: Their protocols are not my own.
High Speaker Brinthe says: Yet you are still a creature of great concern, Keeper. We earthen have found our own directives. We value our new freedom and understanding.
Tyr says: I... am uncertain how to proceed, High Speaker Brinthe. What do you require from me? I would prefer an amicable relationship.
High Speaker Brinthe says: Very well. What is your directive, Keeper Tyr?
Tyr says: My... directive? I do not... recall. Forgive me, my memory is...
High Speaker Brinthe says: I see. Perhaps you understand, then, the trepidation of my people.
Tyr says: I wish only to understand your people. To be an ally.
High Speaker Brinthe says: Then I believe we may continue to learn more about one another. Amicably.
Exploits in Uldaman
Upon arriving in Uldaman with Dagran and Brann, we quickly hit a snag with a sealed door. Dagran uses Tyr's security disc to open it... and ends up freeing a group of trapped goblins inside, who steal the disc and take control of the Titanforged robots inside.
Instead of coming away with Archaedas' security disc, we end up losing Tyr's as well, and so we help Dagran and Brann fight through the goblins and Titanforged to retrieve the disc. Along the way, Dagran does a number of conspicuous bits of tinkering with Titan technology, continuing his story from the Overcharged delves in The War Within and allowing us to create a makeshift fake disc to control the Titanforged instead.
Brann Bronzebeard says: Come on, Dagran! We've some rivals to take care of!
Dagran Thaurissan II says: I'm right behind you, Uncle Brann!
Dagran Thaurissan II says: Right then, I'm starting to put the pieces together. Keep the constructs and goblins away!
Dagran Thaurissan II says: I cannae translate this rune here, Uncle Brann. What do you make of it?
Nifty "Two Boots" Boltdigger says: What're you doing in here? Stop riling up the constructs!
Brann Bronzebeard says: Oh, I've got this. That'll disable security in this room. Watch!
Nifty "Two Boots" Boltdigger says: I just wanted to see the sky again...
Dagran Thaurissan II says: Seems it brought more. Hang on! Let me try the prototype!
Dagran Thaurissan II says: It worked! Er, sort of.
Dagran Thaurissan II says: How fast do ye think ye can trigger more titan security measures, Uncle Brann?
Brann Bronzebeard says: I'm an expert, lad! Hey you golems, follow me!
With two discs asserting commands to them, the local Titanforged are left confused, and we enter a standstill with the goblin who has the disc. After improvising a fake catastrophe with Brann and Dagran, we're able to convince the goblin to drop the disc, allowing us to continue on to find Archaedas' body and retrieve his disc.
Carter Greaseshovel says: Great, now you've confused them! They can't take orders from two discs, dwarf!
Brann Bronzebeard says: Och, Dagran, you overloaded that old disc we had! It's going to blow any minute.
Dagran Thaurissan II says: Huh? Oh. Yes, Uncle Brann. It's probably getting warmer as we speak. We should go!
Carter Greaseshovel says: It is really warm... but I'm calling your bluff! If this thing does explode, show me!
The construct shakes off their confusion and returns to work.
Carter Greaseshovel says: Eek! I'm not staying here a minute longer!
Dagran Thaurissan II says: That was some quick thinking, Uncle Brann!
Brann Bronzebeard says: You picked up the yarn I was spinning right quick, Dagran. Good work. Now to find Archaedas's remains.
While Archaedas' body was formerly deep within Uldaman at his boss room, the goblins seem to have moved it closer to the entrance, making it much easier for us to retrieve his disc and quickly exit. Despite the incredibly brief appearance, Archaedas has received an entirely new HD model, suggesting we may see more of him in the future.
Brann Bronzebeard says: Can't believe those goblins moved ye all the way up here, Archaedas! It's been a while.
Dagran Thaurissan II says: Yes! You got it, champion! I'll open a gateway to the Archives.
Brann Bronzebeard says: We'll be back for adventures another day, Uldaman!
Set-up for Patch 12.2
Upon returning to the Vault of Memory in Dornogal, we are joined by the rest of our allies, with Tyr, Arator, and Brinthe all present. Brinthe still does not trust Tyr, but believes he is acting of his own free will, while Arator is thrilled to meet the man whose legend inspired the creation of his own paladin order, the Silver Hand.
While the cinematic that plays with the help of Archaedas' disc is currently unavailable, the dialogue afterwards implies that we not only find a way to access the Worldcore through the Coreway, but will also receive some kind of revelation regarding the Earthen that Brinthe and Dagran will be interested in uncovering.
The questline ends here, leaving us to wait until patch 12.2 to pursue Xal'atath into Midnight's final zone, the Mantle Vault. Given the obvious cliffhanger, it is incredibly likely that in addition to Arator's search for his parents, we will be joined by Brinthe, Dagran, and Tyr as they work to uncover the mysteries of the Titans amidst our fight to save the Worldsoul.
In many ways, this story feels more like a continuation of The War Within than Midnight's story, albeit with the inclusion of Arator. Regardless, the story of both expansions will finally conclude with patch 12.2, which this questline leaves us well-prepared for!
